Fatty acid transport and metabolism in the feto-placental unit and the role of fatty acid-binding proteins

It is generally accepted that essential fatty acids (EFA) and their long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) derivatives play a crucial role in fetal development and pregnancy outcome. Surprisingly, however, little is known about the transport and metabolism of EFA and LCPUFA in the feto-placental unit. The critical importance of maternal LCPUFA synthesis and the subsequent preferential transport of these by the placenta to the fetus is now well recognized, however underlying mechanisms of these processes are poorly understood. Increasing evidence suggests that the cytosolic and plasma membrane-associated fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP and FABP(pm), respectively) are involved in cellular fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism in several tissues; however, no information is available for the placenta. These proteins may also function in the fine-tuning of cellular events by modulating the metabolism of LCPUFA implicated in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. In this review developments in the understanding of the mechanisms of EFA/LCPUFA transport by the human placenta and the role of the fatty acid-binding proteins in the sequestration of maternal EFA/LCPUFA for fetal delivery are discussed. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.